Swearing quietly to myself

What does one do with a long-time friend who demands one drop everything and do inconvenient things for them---and doesn't comprend NO? (Actually, FUCK NO, but I'm saving that for later.) S---yes, she of the excessive lifestyle---has made travel plans, and is certain that I have nothing better to do than drop everything and keep the schnauzers company for a week. As I've already attempted to explain to her, I already face a 45 mile a day commute. Going back to her place will add another 20 miles to that. It is NOT a question of me needing gas money, as I've tried to make clear. It's the additional 30-60 minutes it will suck from my already full day, not to mention the wear and tear on my car (the one with 240K miles on it).

I'm trying to be nice. I have NOT fired back a reply to her less-than-coherent email telling her to get her shit together, although that's my basic thought on the subject. She has a daughter, a cousin, in-laws out the wazoo---I'm supposed to feel honored that she trusts me best, but damn it!---it's a huge pain-in-the-ass. When I was out of work, or only working a few miles from home, that was one thing, but by complying with that, I seem to have set myself up as dog-sitter ad infinitum ad nauseum. And now, that's not an option I'm entertaining.

Since S doesn't seem to be getting the message, I'm going to bypass her and call her hubby tomorrow. (Because I know that if I try talking to her about it, it'll get loud and nasty and may drive a permanent wedge between us...in the sense that there have been times, during the last two-and-a-half decades when we were snarked enough not to talk for a year or so. And in the condition she's in, that could be forever---although I'm not going to be guilted into it, either.) Knowing him, he'll shrug and say okay, he'll get one of his brothers to do it. Which she won't like, because I do, in fact, get along better with the dogs, but too bad. It's only for a week, they'll get over it.

Other than that, today we had our first clear day for over a week. I was starting to think about a course in boat-building....
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ADDENDUM: I just read my horoscope. Somewhere, the Universe is laughing its ass off---
You cannot be everyone's best friend -- in fact, you can't even expect everyone to like you. So today stop putting so much effort into pleasing someone who clearly cannot be pleased (at least by you). You two are just not compatible, and there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, two people just aren't meant to be friends. If everyone liked everyone, the world would be a very boring place, so be grateful that you do have the friends you have, and stop worrying about the ones you don't have.

Swearing quietly to myself

What does one do with a long-time friend who demands one drop everything and do inconvenient things for them---and doesn't comprend NO? (Actually, FUCK NO, but I'm saving that for later.) S---yes, she of the excessive lifestyle---has made travel plans, and is certain that I have nothing better to do than drop everything and keep the schnauzers company for a week. As I've already attempted to explain to her, I already face a 45 mile a day commute. Going back to her place will add another 20 miles to that. It is NOT a question of me needing gas money, as I've tried to make clear. It's the additional 30-60 minutes it will suck from my already full day, not to mention the wear and tear on my car (the one with 240K miles on it).

I'm trying to be nice. I have NOT fired back a reply to her less-than-coherent email telling her to get her shit together, although that's my basic thought on the subject. She has a daughter, a cousin, in-laws out the wazoo---I'm supposed to feel honored that she trusts me best, but damn it!---it's a huge pain-in-the-ass. When I was out of work, or only working a few miles from home, that was one thing, but by complying with that, I seem to have set myself up as dog-sitter ad infinitum ad nauseum. And now, that's not an option I'm entertaining.

Since S doesn't seem to be getting the message, I'm going to bypass her and call her hubby tomorrow. (Because I know that if I try talking to her about it, it'll get loud and nasty and may drive a permanent wedge between us...in the sense that there have been times, during the last two-and-a-half decades when we were snarked enough not to talk for a year or so. And in the condition she's in, that could be forever---although I'm not going to be guilted into it, either.) Knowing him, he'll shrug and say okay, he'll get one of his brothers to do it. Which she won't like, because I do, in fact, get along better with the dogs, but too bad. It's only for a week, they'll get over it.

Other than that, today we had our first clear day for over a week. I was starting to think about a course in boat-building....
_____________________

ADDENDUM: I just read my horoscope. Somewhere, the Universe is laughing its ass off---
You cannot be everyone's best friend -- in fact, you can't even expect everyone to like you. So today stop putting so much effort into pleasing someone who clearly cannot be pleased (at least by you). You two are just not compatible, and there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, two people just aren't meant to be friends. If everyone liked everyone, the world would be a very boring place, so be grateful that you do have the friends you have, and stop worrying about the ones you don't have.